CSL vs. 996 GT3

[Ade]

Originally Posted by terryb

I have to give you my input as I owned an immaculate CSL for a year and replaced with a fantastic Mk1 GT3, albeit a well modified one.

The main points to consider are

• Front end turn-in. The GT3 is immense - it really makes you feel the difference between a front engined car and rear engined (I know that mid engined cars like Elise's feel the same too).
• Steering feel - Again another big plus for the GT3, although it can become too busy and fidgety at lower speeds and sometimes wish it wasn't so communicative - but on the track it's awesome.
• Brakes - simply phenomenal - never experienced such good brakes (although mine are uprated, but still much better than in my old Impreza Race car, which weighed less and had full APs with Pagid race pads)
• Grip - A well set-up GT3 has immense grip - 295 rear tyres and rear engine, say no more - but remember - slow in, fast out!!!! Although I'm finding fast in fast out...
• Noise - both cars sound truly awesome - the induction roar of the CSL sounds like angry thunder whereas the screaming flat 6 of the GT3 is like a ailing banshee - both make you want to press the loud pedal more of the time
• Gearbox - the 6 speed in the GT3 is a very good box, excellent ratios and very positive in action, but the SMGII CSL box os also great and better on the track as you don't need to take your hands off the steering wheel and perfect downshift blips every time - plus the speed of gearchange in S6 is just immense.

At the end of the day, you need to spend more time behind the seat of a GT3 to understand if it is preferable to a CSL and depends how often you plan to use it. It's completely down to individual tastes too.

Hey Terry,

Nice to hear you enjoying the GT3 A lot of the positives you mention above are because of the extensive mods you have: Alcon brakes + cooling, MMKW suspension and geo, CG wheels, and even small things like the Cup steering wheel and Manthey billet shifter which gives the positive action: the standard gearshift is rubbery in comparison.

If you tried a lesser GT3 in comparison, you'd find it quite blunt and loose in comparison. Enjoy her in good health!

[terryb]

LOL - Ade - you are probably very correct in your comments. Whilst the standard CSL is a great car, it is a long way from my/ your old GT3, but then again if you spent similar money on a CSL it would most probably transform that also and be very comparable to my GT3.

One thing is for sure - if I was headed to the Ring, I'd rather drive over in the CSL but drive the track in the GT3, although the CSL was great at the Ring and I'm yet to drive the GT3 there

[Ade]

Originally Posted by terryb

One thing is for sure - if I was headed to the Ring, I'd rather drive over in the CSL but drive the track in the GT3, although the CSL was great at the Ring and I'm yet to drive the GT3 there

Why don't you come over at the end July for the long weekend?!

[digi]

Originally Posted by ducade

Yes, I owned a 996GT3 for over 3 years and 30k+ miles. Modded pretty much everything on it during that time courtesy of Manthey and it was a razor sharp track-focussed scalpel when I sold it earlier this year. Out went the GT3, in came the CSL.

I think it depends on what you want to do with the car. The 6Gt3 is a brilliant tool. But I think it is very hard to fall in love with, in the same way the CSL rewards you instantly. The GT3 is all about precision driving, eeking out the fastest and smoothest lines, perfecting your braking approaching the apex, and modulating the throttle at and through the apex. It rewards you in 0.01s against the clock. The GT3 also gives you the sense of occasion on road trips and bragging rights in the paddock... something you never really get with the CSL. If you are chasing 10/10ths on track, relish the attention on the road and in the paddock, then the GT3 is tops (apart from going the Lambo/Fezza route)

But the CSL is, by far, the most fun car I've ever owned! For one, it's understated. SG/SB is about as exciting the colours get, and for most on the road, it's just another 3-series. Flying undercover, imho, is a good thing - especially in this market. The CSL rewards you instantly on track - you can pitch is sideways, in the dry, in the wet, and get away with it. It is easy to drive at 9/10ths (easier than the GT3), and it is the quicker car A-B in real world road conditions. In short, the CSL is an absolute HOOLIGAN!

On track, the GT3 at the limit is tricky - it will teach you how to drive again, steering from the rear, and using the mechanical grip/aero to your advantage. Underestimate it, or overestimate your abilities, and it will bite. Hard and fast.

Depending on how deep your pockets are, you will either find tracking 45k worth of GT3 painless or poor VFM compared to 25-30k of CSL. Especially when the CSL is good enough to give the GT3 a proper dogfight on most circuits (except on power circuits like Spa/Silverstone and if the circuit is clear). At the 'Ring, there is nothing in it except for driver ability. The CSL laps as quickly in pro hands as does the GT3.

On the road, for normal hooning around, the CSL is the better car imho. Add in occasional passengers/urban use etc, and it's a no brainer.

I don't miss the social attention of the GT3... but that's just me. Both cars are equally special - there are touches of the CSL that make it feel very very special. Hold out for the CSL imho

Awesome write up of your experience with both machines.

[m33ufo]

Well...in the end I didn't get either

[Bealo]

Lovely car and one of only a few that i would consider if i was to move away from the CSL.

There fetching not a lot of money these days and you get a hell of a lot of car.

Decent power is fairly cheap to achieve if you so wish, i know i would want more

i haven't seen one on track yet but i guess they go very well.

[SMD]

Whats going on with the low milage CSL that you did not buy in the end?

[m33ufo]

It's a 2004/04 TT X50. The performance took me by surprise, easily the most rapid thing I have ever driven. Nothing else has come close....you wouldn't expect it to be a hell of a lot quicker than a 420hp M3 (like i recently sold) but the difference feels dramatic. I have considered some subtle mods - 600bhp is apparently easily achieveable, but at the moment it's under Porsche Warranty which would of course be invalidated by as much as an exhaust change!!!


Re the CSL, the sellers gf was involved in an accident in France and until a couple of weeks ago he was in France with her waiting for her to make a recovery. He refunded my deposit and said he'll contact me when things have settled down. I'll see how I get on with this, who knows I may still get the CSL

[Andyk]

Drove a Turbo at the beginning of the year..bloody bonkers fast, pulled like feck in any gear ....lots of performance for the money. They have gone up in price over the last 6 months...there was few good one around 27k now they are around 33k.

Enjoy

[shane@mbtech]

Originally Posted by Andyk

Drove a Turbo at the beginning of the year..bloody bonkers fast, pulled like feck in any gear ....lots of performance for the money. They have gone up in price over the last 6 months...there was few good one around 27k now they are around 33k.

Enjoy

I sold mine for 30k earlier in year with 35k on clock. Rapid car.

I have a carbon fibre look rear wing, slightly bigger than the standard one,
looks cool imo.

ill post a pic up, if youre interested let me know, if you have the 6pots fitted i have pf discs and pads and i also have a brand new sfs silicone hose kit available.

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